Scott Mayfield injury decision gives Islanders more trade freedom

Scott Mayfield — and his $3.5 million cap hit — is going on long-term injured reserve.

General manager Lou Lamoriello told reporters Tuesday morning before the Islanders faced the Blues that Mayfield, who got hurt for the third time this season on Feb. 24 against Tampa, is expected to miss another four-to-six weeks before a decision is made regarding surgery on a lower-body injury.

The defenseman suffered an ankle injury while blocking a shot on opening night, which he recently told The Post took until the All-Star break to fully heal.

His game has suffered in turn, as Mayfield has appeared a step off the pace and accounted for 35 penalty minutes.

Sebastian Aho, who has filled in for Mayfield the last four games, will likely continue to do so.

That timeline Lamoriello gave for a potential return coincides with the end of the regular season, which is about six weeks from now.

That means that the Islanders, whose salary-cap situation previously prevented them from making a trade without matching salaries, now have a bit of a cushion to work with.

Since they have already dipped into their LTI pool to call up Kyle MacLean and Hudson Fasching could soon be activated, adding a large contract is still not doable unless money goes the other way.

But the Islanders do appear to be free to look for depth pieces.